Head of People

As Head of People at Natural Resources Wales (NRW), you will lead one of the most strategically important functions in our organisation. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our workforce and culture, ensuring our people are empowered to deliver on our mission to manage Wales’ natural resources sustainably. You will lead a broad and strategically significant portfolio covering all core people functions. This includes wellbeing, health and safety, payroll and reward, talent acquisition and resourcing, learning and development, Welsh language policy, strategic workforce planning, and equality, diversity and inclusion.

You will also be responsible for driving strategic partnering and leading organisational change and transformation. Working closely with a skilled and committed senior team, you will ensure our people services are customer-focused, digitally enabled, and fully aligned with our corporate plan and long-term workforce priorities. You will be responsible for developing and embedding people strategies that support a fair, inclusive and high-performing culture. This includes leading strategic workforce planning, creating career pathways, delivering leadership development programmes, and ensuring our policies and practices reflect best practice and legal compliance.

This role offers the opportunity to influence at the highest levels. You will work closely with the Chief Executive, Executive Directors, Trade Unions and external partners including Welsh Government. You will champion our values, lead with integrity and clarity, and ensure our people feel supported, valued and proud to be part of NRW. We are looking for a visionary leader with deep expertise across People Management and a passion for public service. If you are ready to make a lasting impact and help shape an organisation that is responding to the climate and nature emergencies through its people, we would love to hear from you.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

What you will do

• Lead a senior people team who with your leadership, have collective responsibility for the development and delivery of the people plans and customer focussed people services to the organisation.
• Develop People service plans and consider opportunities for continuously improving the services we provide to our customers through digital solutions aligned to NRW’s corporate plan.
• Be the People Head of Profession, creating a people career framework and driving the continuous improvement of skills and capability of the people team.
• Develop and monitor the application of best practice people policies which are fair, legally compliant and have the flexibility to enable the delivery of organisational goals.
• Lead the strategic direction of the organisation’s Wellbeing and Health & Safety function, driving a proactive culture of care, accountability, and performance excellence.
• Lead NRW’s reward plan, including job evaluation, pay, grading and associated reward mechanisms, ensuring NRW can attract and retain excellent people.
• Drive the resourcing plan to position NRW as an employer of choice, incorporating diversity, reward, and best practice.
• Lead and embed NRW’s strategic workforce plan, closely aligning to business and financial plans, ensuring future workforce needs are predicted and effective talent management and succession plans are in place.
• Drive the strategic direction and delivery of learning and development, creating quality solutions aligned with business needs, including the creation of high-quality leadership and development programmes.
• Act as a change agent for organisational change, championing and leading the people aspects of those changes and supporting the organisation to transition to new ways of working.
• Lead staff engagement initiatives in partnership with colleagues in the Communications team, including surveys and feedback mechanisms, ensuring responsive and inclusive organisational development.
• Lead and champion NRW’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Welsh Language plans, embedding those values and culture across the organisation.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Be committed to your own development and that of your team through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

• Degree level qualification, or equivalent higher education qualification (or equivalent experience).
• Qualified membership of the CIPD at Chartered or Fellowship level or relevant professional experience/ Chartership.
• Extensive experience of working as a senior people professional in a leadership role.
• A strategic thinker with the ability to set strategic direction and gain buy in for their plans.
• An inspirational and authentic leader, with the ability to set a clear and engaging vision, empower and enable others and develop the people function.
• Ability to communicate and influence effectively with a diverse range of audiences, from Board meetings to tailored staff-engagement, using a high standard of written and oral communication skills and able to use influence and persuasion to shape outcomes and gain support.
• Highly resilient with experience of successfully supporting organisations through significant periods of change.
• Ability to prioritise deliverables within your work area, having a performance mind-set and a strong customer focus.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and decision making, with a focus on evidence-based decisions through the use of data and analytics.
• Knowledge and understanding of some or all parts of NRW’s work is desirable.
• Welsh Language level requirements: Essential: Level A1 - Entry level; Desirable: Level C2 - Higher proficiency level.

Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

How to apply

To apply, please submit the following to 94891@odgers.com: CV and a brief cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the requirements of this role. NRW will not be accepting direct applications for this role. All applications submitted to Odgers will be acknowledged. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. We welcome applications in Welsh or English. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than those in English. You will also be asked to complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. This information is treated in strict confidence and will not affect your application.

The selection process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a three-stage process:

• Psychometric Assessment: Delivered by Odgers, assessing leadership style, cognitive strengths, and behavioural preferences.
• Staff Engagement Panel: A session with a cross-section of staff focused on leadership approach, values, and organisational culture.
• Final Interview: In-person interviews held in our Cardiff office with senior stakeholders to explore strategic fit and leadership capability.

Benefits

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme).
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days.
• Generous leave entitlements for all your life needs.
• Commitment to professional development.
• Health and wellbeing benefits and support.
• Weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose.

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.